Underneath the Red Trees

CHAPTER 83: NEARING THE END

"What the actual fuck?" Nakamura's eyes were wide. The ERIS agents behind the door were also panicked.

Hachiro was frozen as he stared at it. The other two monsters in the room had already unsettled him, but this was too much to bear.

"Father," Akira said. He kept his eyes trained on the dragon. He knew the beast. It had been his downfall, or rather, its master had been his downfall. "What do we do?"

Katsu glanced at Akira. "It won't attack as long as Touma is inside." He raised his chin, looking toward those stood at the door. "Protect us."

"Yes, sir," Nakamura said.

She dragged Hachiro with her to the group. Her body turned to the door with her back facing the others. She summoned her pistols and pointed them at the door.

The doors flew open. The ERIS agents were nowhere to be found. Five people crossed the threshold. Harin, Kaguya, the Face Eater, Satoru, and Hayate.

Touma's heart squeezed when he saw Hayate. The cruel words he had spoken were still like fresh wounds. He stepped back.

"Touma," Hayate's voice was steady.

Touma shook his head. He didn't want to hear anything Hayate had to say.

"Touma," Hayate repeated. The two groups were at a stalemate. Neither would make the first move. Hayate needed this chance to clear things up with Touma. "Listen, I know what I said was hurtful. It was cruel."

"Yeah, no shit!" Touma's voice was tremulous.

Hayate squeezed his eyes shut. "I know. I know." He opened his eyes, looking at Touma with those same eyes that he knew. Eyes filled with adoration and love. Touma's heart ached. "I need you to know that I didn't mean any of it."

"Then why did you say it?" Touma's voice was brittle. "If you didn't mean it, why did you say it?"

Dismay flooded Hayate's countenance. He didn't say anything, but for a moment he glanced at Katsu.

The realisation hit Touma like a fray train. His eyes shifted from Hayate to Katsu's back. Katsu glanced at Touma over his shoulder. There was no guilt in his expression. No remorse.

"What did you do?"

Katsu inhaled sharply. "What was necessary. You needed to see the truth."

"Of what?" Touma's voice rose. "What did I need to see?"

Katsu turned to him. He raised his chin. "You are better off with us. We are your family."

"No," Touma said, "Not anymore."

"We will always be your family," Katsu said, "That will never change."

"I am not an Akano anymore."

"Do you think you're better off with him? Think about the things he said to you."

"You made him say all of it!" Touma sucked in a breath and released it. Katsu shook his head. "I know how your suggestive compulsion works. You affect thoughts and feelings. The only thing that is the truth is how Hayate reacted. I already know he has a bad temper."

Katsu lowered his eyes. Was that guilt?

A sharp pain shot through Touma's scalp. "Enough." Akira wrapped his arm around Touma's throat, gripping his jaw. "Shall we leave, Father?" Tenko growled at Akira. "Tell your pet to be quiet."

Touma shuddered. "Tenko," he said, "I'm fine."

She gave one final growl, whereafter she sat down, staring at Akira with her endlessly dark eyes.